Do you suffer from regular bouts of stress?

Well, you are not alone!

The truth is that everyone will experience psychological stress at some point in their life. It’s a normal reaction to our body’s flight-or-fight response, which is designed to keep us safe from danger. But stress can take a toll on your body and mind, raising your blood pressure, triggering the release of stress hormones like cortisol, and even placing you at a greater risk of developing heart disease.

How to Lower Your Stress

The good news is that you can lower your stress levels through personal growth and development techniques, one of which is meditation. Some people assume that meditation requires extensive training and practice, but this isn’t the case. Just post up in a quiet, distraction-free environment, and perform deep breathing exercises while maintaining control of your thoughts. The secret to a successful and productive meditation session is to control your thoughts, preventing your mind from wandering off. The easiest way to accomplish this is to focus on a central element, such as a beach, your childhood home, a family member whom you’ve lost, etc.

According to an article published by the Washington Post, meditation eases stress and anxiety by literally changing the way in which your brain works. When comparing the brain scans of people who’ve meditated against people who haven’t meditated, there was some striking differences between the two. It’s unclear how exactly meditation is able to change the brain, but the general consensus among medical professionals is that it works. There are of course other ways to reduce and manage the stress in your life.

Your perspective on life will also play a role in your stress levels. If you focus on the negative aspects of your life, you’ll experience higher levels of stress and anxiety and may find that stress can cause physical challenges. It’s just that simple. So, try to retrain your brain to focus on the positive, uplifting elements of your life. When you wake up in the morning, shift your thoughts to something positive, telling yourself why you are a good person and how you will accomplish great things. By doing this day after day, your brain will become hardwired to stay positive.

Of course, you should also reevaluate your diet, basing your meals around fresh foods instead of processed snacks. We live in a society that’s stuck in the mindset of choosing convenience over nutrition, with many people eating fast food and other highly processed foods on a daily basis. There’s nothing wrong with an occasional favorite food that might not be top of the health food list, but it shouldn’t be the main source of your nutrition. Too much processed food will only bog down your body and mind, increasing stress levels.

Photo Credit: Bottled Void

Enjoy this great 10 minute video with Lousie Hay on Rules for Success including…

  • Tips you can incorporate into your life on a daily basis

Click here for more by Louise Hay!

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